Cairo's Tahrir Square this evening, 3 February

© "Monasosh"/afrol News

afrol News, 3 February - Protesters in central Cairo today have gained the upper hand, with the area under their control relatively safe and quiet. Outside the barricades, however, plain-clothed police and pro-regime mobs make the city unsafe, hunting down civilians.

Press F5 to update!

12:10 (4 February) - afrol News' live studio on Egypt protests is open, but in another page. To follow today's, Friday's, live stream, click here.

00:45 - [01:45 Cairo time] At Tahrir Square, the tranquility is occasionally interrupted by an alarm of possible pro-regime mobs attacking, but these turn out to be false. Most people, amounting to tens of thousands, are tired and try to sleep, gearing up for the large event tomorrow. Protesters take shifts at protecting the "front line", which is well protected by barricades and the army. Most feel safe, despite the absence of foreign media. Friday will be the great day, they agree. Until then, it is important for the protesters to maintain control of central Cairo, and it looks like they will do just that.

00:18 - "Don't know what rumors you go, we are fine. Army still in their place; useless as usual. We are safe in the center," Monasosh agrees in a Twitter message a few minutes ago. "Monasosh" has provided some of the astonishing pictures of Tahrir sqaure published in afrol News today.

00:11, Friday 4 February - "I've just walked around Tahrir. No trucks shipping thugs, no people getting slaughtered, and the few thugs on the bridge are bored," Mosa'ab Elshamy tweets from central Cairo,

23:56 - Not all protesters at Tahrir agree that the situation is worrisome. "Cyber-panic is not helpful. Square safe and people must keep filling it," an activist at the square just tweeted. "Tahrir Square is the safest place in Cairo right now," another activist adds.

23:37 - Several activists at Tahrir are informing that the army seems to be retreating from its positions around the square, which has protected the protesters throughout the day. Many say they fear the regime is planning something, now that journalists have been chased away from central Cairo and there are no cameras witnessing what might happen.

23:22 - It is already past midnight in Egypt; it is Friday. Today will be the great day when protesters shout their "last goodbye" to President Mubarak. They hope for another march of the millions, like on Wednesday, to emerge after the Friday prayers.

23:04 - Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq, who earlier today distanced himself from President Mubarak, says he has ordered the Interior Minister, who is in charge of the police, "not to obstruct peaceful marches on Friday."

22:51 - "People have routed power from street lights and are c

Despite many wounded, spirits at Tahrir Square have been high today

© Anonymous/afrol News

harging their cell phones in Tahrir," Egyptian journalist Sharif Kouddous tweets from the square. "Hundreds of people are sleeping next to each other in the grassy area in the middle of the square, packed together close," he adds.

22:44 - The army is offering protection for those wanting to leave Tahrir Square, protesters report from the scene. Currently, there are as many leaving as coming. There is a constant change of shifts on the square.

22:29 - Protesters at Cairo's Tahrir Square are now organising for tomorrow's big event, the "final goodbye" for Mubarak. Logistics have improved, and organisers are trying to get as much provisions of food, water and medical supplies as possible to the square in case of renewed attacks. Organisers are calling for donations.

22:20 - Also the 'Al Jazeera' journalists abducted by police earlier today were severely beaten, the broadcaster reports.

22:03 - Pro-regime mobs and police are active all over the city. Even residents of the quiet Cairo residential district Nasr City now report of gunshots in the streets.

b>21:51 - Swedish journalist Bert Sundström, who was adbudcted by the military police earlier today, is now in hospital, severely mistreated by security forces. Also the three 'Al Jazeera' journalists abducted by police earlier today have been released.

21:41 - Protesters at Tahrir confirm that "the square is void of media; local and foreign."

21:38 - There are a growing number of reports from Cairo, saying that people organising, participating in or reporting from the Tahrir protests are "arrested" on their way home or in their homes as they take a break from the protests. Police activity outside central Cairo is increasingly repressive, targetting larger groups.

21:31 - Tourists at the Red Sea resort Hurghada report that the situation there is "totally calm" today, but with "a heavy military presence." Yesterday a group of up to 200 pro-regime "protesters" scared locals and tourists as they roamed the streets of Hurghada.

21:23 - "Yesterday, it was the Interior Ministry's police doing the dirty jobs for Mubarak. Today, it's the military police," holds Hossam el-Hamalawy, after having spent many hours on Tahrir Square earlier today.

21:09 - While the many thousand protesters at Tahrir Square are safe for the moment, they increasingly issue messages for journalists to return, as they fear the regime is preparing something while no cameras capture the event. But journalists in Cairo are the

Cairo protesters defend their barricades as darkness approaches

© Anonymous/afrol News

most hunted persons now and unable to move through the city to Tahrir.

20:59 - News of Mubarak's interview on 'ABC News' has reached Tahrir Square, with protesters spontaneously shouting "You are to leave!" and "Leave now!".

20:57 - "The most conservative estimate I heard of protesters in Tahrir today was 200,000. Fantastic turnout, despite yesterday's massacre," Hossam el-Hamalawy tweets from Cairo, after having spent many hours on Tahrir Square earlier today.

20:45 - 'ABC News' reporter Christiane Amanpour gets seldom insight in the "fortress" where President Mubarak is hiding out, with heavy military protection. The well orchestrated show probably should let protesters understand it is impossible to chase him out of the presidential palace. Also, the President's son Gamal, who was believed to be in London, appeared in the interview.

20:39 - In the same interview (see below), President Mubarak denies any responsibility for the pro-regime agents that caused the violent clashes yesterday. He blames the Muslim Brotherhood for the violence.

20:36 - How ironic: As 'ABC News' star reporter Christiane Amanpour is interviewing President Mubarak, his mobs have " carjacked an ABC News crew and threatened to behead them today," the same US media reports.

20:31 - President Mubarak in the interview claims he would have loved to step down right away, but that this only would lead to chaos in Egypt. He therefore remains determinated to stay in power until the September elections, where he will not be a candidate. Neither will his son, Gamal, he confirms.

20:26 - "I was very unhappy seing what happened yesterday," President Mubarak says in an ongoing interview with the US broadcaster 'ABC News'.

20:23 - There are very few foreign and independent journalists being able to report freely in Cairo now, many having been "arrested", many more seeing their equipment confiscated and most being isolated at their hotels. Concerned protesters question if the Mubarak regime has "planned something terrible" as international media are being shut off. The best reports now come from the activists themselves.

20:10 - German TV has shown footage of SOS Children's villages in Cairo and Alexandria "attacked by pro-Mubarak mobs" and speaks of several being injured.

19:52 - There are events in areas controlled by protesters now. Cairo police keeps concentrating on attacking civil society, including media and human rights activists, throughout the city. Central Cair

Barricades close to Tahrir Square held by protesters, with pro-regime mob on rooftops in background

© Hossam el-Hamalawy/afrol News

o has more or less been left in the hands of the protesters.

19:40 - Cairo hospitals report of at least 35 persons killed during the clashes yesterday. Offical numbers from the Ministry of Health are still at 13.

19:35 - A Greek journalist working for the daily 'Kathimerini', who was rumoured dead after a heavy attack from pro-regime mobs earlier today, is confirmed alive but severely damaged. 'Kathimerini' confirms that the army had rescued its reporter in the last moment.

19:17 - There are fewer pro-regime agents in central Cairo now, but still occasional attacks with Molotov cocktails and stones. Protesters at Tahrir Square, still in great numbers, report they feel quite safe and say they are trying to mobilise as many as possible to participate in tomorrow's "final goodbye" protest.

19:09 - In Cairo, protesters through the mobile network and social media report of traffic into and out of Tahrir Square, as the activists are doing shifts to protect their position in central Cairo. Some report to "tired" after hours of fighting, heading home for some hours of sleep to return later to Tahrir. Access roads to the square are now mostly in the protesters' control and transports are somewhat easier but not without risks.

18:55 - The situation in Alexandria is becoming more tense, protesters report. Although protesters there dominate streets and alleys, there are attacks from stone-throwing pro-regime agents.

18:49 - Swedish state broadcaster 'SVT' reports that "the army has been given secrete orders to arrest all foreign journalists to regain order in the streets. 'SVT' reporter Bert Sundström today was abducted yesterday by plain-clothed police. As the 'SVT' editor tried to call Mr Sundström on his mobile phone, a man with Arabic accent told him "Your man is held by the army. If you sons of bitches want to have him back, come and get him."

18:28 - VP Suleiman's speech (see below) was not well received on Tahrir Square, where tens of thousands protester are gathered. The crowds started booing and calling for President Mubarak to step down immediately. Mr Suleiman does not seem to have improved his rating among pro-democracy protesters through his attacks on the foreign press.

18:22 - President Mubarak has not been seen in public for two days. Analysts wonder whether he is no longer bearable for the regime, which may try to focus power on VP Suleiman.

18:18 - Broadcasters from all over the world, based in central Cairo hotels, have seen their eq

Cairo's Tahrir Square is filling up with protesters again

© Hossam el-Hamalawy/afrol News

uipment seized and are unable to film the events. Most international journalists stay in their hoel rooms as their colleages in the steets have been attacked by pro-government mobs.

18:13 - Vice-President Omar Suleiman in his TV speech (see below) added that "foreign engagement" had stood behind the unrest, directly pointing to foreign media and governments. "Some friendly countries [ie Qatar] have unfriendly channels [ie 'Al Jazeera']. I am sad for this animosity," he said. At the same time, pro-government mob is beating up foreign journalists in the streets of Cairo.

17:58 - Vice-President Omar Suleiman has made a larger speech on Egypt's state TV, calling for an investigation into yesterday's clashes; dialogue with the opposition, including the Muslim Brotherhood; and time to arrange free and fair elections, preferedly in September.

17:38 - The newest update from the Ministry of Health now says at least 13 were killed and 1,200 injured during yesterday's clashes in Cairo.

17:24 - "Two Oxfam partners attacked in Cairo this afternoon – their offices raided [by military police], 8 people arrested," the British NGO just has reported, confirming earlier reports of widespread attacks on civil society groups by the Mubarak regime. The two raided groups are the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre; and the Egyptian Centre for Economic/Social Rights.

17:21 - "Mubarak is terrified now," an 'Al Jazeera' reporter notes, not without satisfaction. 'Al Jazeera' teams in Cairo have been strongly harrassed by regime supporters.

17:16 - The situation at Tahrir Square remains calm, with protesters there taking shifts to defend the "front line", which is moving farther away from the square. The "liberated area" in central Cairo meanwhile has developed into the safest place in town, as pro-regime mobs continue to make life dangerous outside of the barricades.

17:05 - Another Egyptian high official condemns President Mubarak. Parliamentary Speaker Fathi Sorour on state TV demanded the "immediate punishment" of those "responsible for the bloodbath on peaceful demonstrators," who had a "legitimate rgiht to express themselves." Mr Sorour added Allah would "damn those responsible."

16:58 - Egypt's prominent anti-government blogger "Sandmonkey", who was detained earlier today, has been released, he himself confirms: "I am ok. I got out. I was ambushed & beaten by the police, my phone confiscated , my car ripped apart & supplies taken," the blogger recently stated on Twitter.

16:

Protesters with anti-Mubarak slogans again flock to central Cairo's Tahrir Square today

© Anonymous/afrol News

54 - Together with the Amnesty researcher, more than 30 Egytpian human rights activists and lawyers were arrested in Cairo this afternoon, new reports confirm. Police officers were reported to have threatened the activists, calling them "spies for Hamas and Iran."

16:51 - According to 'BBC' reporter Khaled Ezzelarab, present in central Cairo, one protestor was "killed in Abdel Monem Riyad Square in central Cairo, many more injured, among them three in critical condition."

16:47 - It is now a quarter to six in Egypt. Curfew started three quarters ago, without any effect, of course. It will soon get dark.

16:45 - Protesters in Alexandria claim to have caught two men trying to rob a bank, and it turned out that the men had police ID. The reports are unconfirmed, however.

16:35 - Algerian authorities have just announced they will lift the 19-year-old state of emergency "in very near future" after preparations for a 12 February protest march against the state of emergency. See an afrol News report on the situation in Algeria here.

16:30 - President Hosni Mubarak's son Gamal, until recently expected to take over the presidency after his father, today has resigned from Egypt's ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), Egyptian media report.

16:26 - Reporter Matthias Gebauer from Germany's 'Spiegel' is at Tahrir Square and says he is observing anti-government protesters preparing petrol bombs, preparing a massive counter-attack on the pro-regime mob. "We will strike back," protesters told him. There have been few Molotov cocktails so far today.

16:22 - Egyptian police continue to attack civil society in the country. Amnesty International reports that its Cairo delegate has been arrested, together with representatives of Egyptian human rights groups. Journalists are being attacked whenever seen and cameras are confiscated or destroyed in great numbers.

16:04 - Egypt's Health Ministry now confirms that at least eight persons died in yesterday's Cairo unrest, with around 900 registered injured.



Older updates in today's live stream are found in the first part, here.

Live studio updates from yesterday (2 Feb) and last night are found in yesterday's Egypt live stream, here.


(Hours are Central Europe time. Cairo time is one hour later, GMT one hour less).

Press F5 to update!

By staff writers

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